THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XXIV.] NOVEMBER, 1891. [No. 342. 



TORTRIX DONELANA, Cabpenter. 



For several months past the occurrence of a supposed new 

 species of the genus Tortrix has been an open secret among 

 entomologists in this country, but very little information con- 

 cerning it has so far found its way into our entomological journals. 

 The following abstract of a paper entitled "A new Species of 

 Tortrix from Tuam," by George H. Carpenter, B.Sc, Assistant 

 Naturalist in the Science and Art Museum, Dublin,* may there- 

 fore be interesting to readers of the * Entomologist': — 



Early in June of last year (1890) Mr. D. O'C. Donelan, of Sylau, 

 Tuam, forwarded to me some pine-shoots, with small caterpillars, which, he 

 stated, had caused much damage, in the summers of 1889 and 1890, to a 

 plantation of firs situated partly on bog and partly on upland tracts. Some 

 of the caterpillars pupated very soon after arrival. About the middle of 

 July three moths (all males) appeared, and my surprise was great to find 

 that they very closely resembled Tortrix viburnana. 



It appears to be identical with the moth figured in Herrich-Schaffer's 

 'SchmetterUnge von Europa,' vol. iv. fig. 419, as a variety of Tortrix 

 steineriana, SchifF. This figure, however, is very unlike the true T. 

 steineriana [op. cit. vol. iv. figs. 57-8), and the author, in his Appendix 

 [op. cit. vol. vi. p. 155), expresses his opinion that it is a distinct form. 

 Heinemann ('Die Schmetterlinge Deutschlands und der Schweiz,' vol. ii. 

 p. 46) identifies this figure of Herrich-Schaffer's with the Tortrix lusana of 

 that author ; but neither the figure nor my specimens agree with this 

 opinion. Besides, the larva of T. lusana is stated by Heinemann to feed 

 on Vacclnium. 



We may therefore conclude that, except for Herrich-Schaffer's unnamed 

 figure, the moth from Tuam is new to science. I have much pleasure in 

 describing it under the name of Tortrix donelana, as a tribute to the gentle- 

 man who discovered it. 



• ' Scientific Proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society,' vol. vH. pt. ii. p. 91, 

 pi. vii. (1891). 



ENTOM. NOV. 1891. Z 



